BACKLIT Gallery Presents EDITION26, A Dialogue Between Past and Present

BACKLIT Gallery (Nottingham) is proud to present EDITION26, a studio member exhibition exploring the evolution of practice over time. Thirteen artists bring together an earlier work and a more recent piece, creating pairings that reveal how their approaches, materials, and ideas have developed.

Working across film, sculpture, painting, photography, installation, and mixed media, the exhibition highlights both transformation and continuity in the artists’ practices. Some pairings show dramatic shifts, while others trace enduring themes that persist across years.

EDITION26 offers a rare insight into creative development, inviting audiences to see how Nottingham’s artist-led community grows, experiments, and evolves.

Past and Present in Dialogue

In collaboration, Jazz Swali (Curator) and Marta Marsicka (Artist Development Coordinator) foreground process throughout this exhibition, offering a view of artistic development that is rarely made visible in gallery settings.

"EDITION26 brings together artists actively thinking through their own development—what it means to sustain a practice, and how that evolves over time. What distinguishes this exhibition is its self-reflective quality; the works reveal the thinking, questioning, and both material and conceptual exploration that underpin each practice. It also highlights the importance of studio practice as a methodology—an ongoing space where ideas are tested, challenged, and transformed." - Marta Marsicka, Artist Development Coordinator, BACKLIT Gallery

“This exhibition allows me to reflect on a shift in my practice, from working on the surfaces of found objects to building my own sculptural forms through layering and assembling. This process has opened new possibilities in how I approach image, surface, and structure. The studio itself serves as a space for experimentation, where ideas can move freely between painting and sculpture” - Xin Chen, Exhibiting Artist

Exhibiting Artists: Dan Shutt, Karen Chesney, Peter Chesney, Lois Sabet, Lucy Davies, Lucy Nelson, Marcia Porto, Natalie Chung, Neville Smith, Panya Banjoko, Sara Gaynor, Theodora Prassa and Xin Chen.

Notes to Editors

Interviews: Interviews with Curator Jazz Swali are available on request. For scheduling and inquiries, please get in touch with Jazz Swali, at [email protected]

Admission is free with no booking required.

Exhibition Opening Times:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday
12:00 – 16:00

For press inquiries please contact:

Matthew Chesney, Co-Director, [email protected]

Jazz Swali, Curator and Programme Coordinator, [email protected]

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About BACKLIT

Founded in 2008 as an artist-led space by Nottingham graduates, BACKLIT has evolved into an internationally renowned independent public gallery and cultural organization. Over the past 14 years, we have presented more than 100 national and international exhibitions, contributing significantly to contemporary art discourse. Housed in a historic Victorian building (est. 1872), our galleries span three floors and include creative studios, home to over 120 artists, collectives, and associate members. Our annual programme of free exhibitions, events, and workshops fosters community engagement and supports artists at all stages of their careers. As an LGBTQ+ and female-led organisation, we prioritise equity, inclusion, mental health, and creating a safe space for all. BACKLIT is a registered charity (no. 1167258) and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

https://backlit.org.uk/

Arts Council England

Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. ACE support a range of activities across the arts, museums, and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspire us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better.

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/